Customers across the North East could face chaos because thousands of businesses aren’t prepared for the new £1 coins.

The new coins will start appearing in your pockets from Tuesday this week but the changes to the coin’s shape and size will mean they might not be accepted by some machines.

Some companies have spent months preparing for the new coins which will replace the old coin entirely by October. But here are some of the places where consumers have been warned to expect teething problems.

Supermarket trolleys

Tesco had initially admitted that some its trolleys will not be ready for the new 12-sided £1 coin when it enters into circulation.

But the supermarket chain has said it will be unlocking thousands of them to ensure there’s no chaos in its stores.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We’re replacing the locks on our trolleys to accept old and new pound coins as well as existing trolley tokens.

“As an interim measure we will unlock trolleys while this process is completed and we will continue to have colleagues on hand to attend trolleys in our stores, so our customers aren’t affected by the changes.”

Tesco trolleys might not accept the new £1 coin in time for the changeover (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Sainsbury’s, Asda , Morrisons , Aldi and Lidl have said their trolleys will be converted by next week, accepting both old and new coins.

Supermarkets have known that their trolleys would have to be updated to fit the new coin since 2014.

Train companies

If you’re looking to pay for your train journey through an automated machine there is a chance that you might end up at a machine that doesn’t accept the new coins yet.

A spokesperson for Great Western Trains, for example, told the Telegraph that the company was working to make sure all of their machines would accept the coins when the old pound ceases to be legal tender in October.

They said: “We are working to ensure all ticket vending machines across our estate will be able to accept the new £1 before the present coin ceases to be legal tender.”

Pay & Display parking

Signage on a pay and display parking machine

Around a quarter of the UK’s 100,000 pay and display machines won’t have been updated in time to accept the new 12-sided coin, the British Parking Association said.

This could mean chaos at train stations, hospitals and other managed car parks as customers find they don’t have the right cash to pay.

The association has told motorists that they shouldn’t be concerned as the vast majority will be updated by the October deadline when then old coin goes out of circulation.

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A spokesman for the trade association said: “The majority of machines will be ready when the new £1 coin comes into circulation, and drivers shouldn’t forget that they can continue to use the old pound coin until October.”

The Metro

Pop card Metro ticket machine

There were some teething problems with the new £5 note not being accepted at ticket machines.

But those days are behind us and many are hoping there are no such issues with the new £1 coin.

A spokesman for the Metro service previously confirmed work was under way to ensure all their machines are ready for March 28.

The modification project will hopefully have all 224 ticket machines across the region ready for that date.

Vending machines

New £1 coin (Image: PA)

People heading over to the office vending machine for a mid-morning snack could also run into problems